but what before us, love?

love lays its hands on everything
chanting such strange and guttural invocations
that we’re almost convinced healing is material in nature
that all it takes is a room full of something
of sage to smoke out the bitterness
of snakes to bleed out the poison
of carnal desire to flood out the loneliness

I am here at the edge of that room
and yes, the candles burn soft white, cores melting
and yes, what was here before us left its dust in between the floorboards
it’s just you and I with only yesterday in between us
and yes, I am waiting for something
as love drags its fingertips along my spine
but yes, what comes next?